Cuenca vs Koh Phangan: cost of living for digital nomads
Cuenca, Ecuador and Koh Phangan, Thailand, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Cuenca is about 12% cheaper than Koh Phangan for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,250).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $480 in Cuenca against $500 in Koh Phangan.
- Koh Phangan scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Cuenca is temperate; Koh Phangan is tropical.
Cuenca wins 5 of the measured lines; Koh Phangan wins 2.
| Line | Cuenca | Koh Phangan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,250 |
| Rent | $480 | $500 |
| Food | $320 | $350 |
| Transport | $35 | $60 |
| Coworking | $90 | $100 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 60 | 60 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | mid | small |
| Setting | mountain | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Koh Phangan
Thai island with a fast-growing nomad scene around Sri Thanu — beaches, wellness, low cost.
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Compare Koh Phangan with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.